Siena: NYers Support Med-Mar, Split On Fracking, Meh On MMA

Today’s Siena poll finds a strong majority of New Yorkers – 57 percent – support legalizing marijuana for medical use, despite the fact that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made clear that’s a non-starter for this legislative session.

The timing of this poll is impeccable, since we at CapTon plan to have Assemblyman Dick Gottfried and Sen. Diane Savino – two Democrats who are sponsoring legislation on this issue – on the show tonight.

Siena’s Dr. Don Levy said the poll’s numbers show Democrats and independents strongly support legalization, and at least a majority of every demographic agree – except Republicans and self-described conservatives, who are divided on the issue.

Among the 68 percent who are following the issue most closely, support is running high at 62-31.

The poll also found voters remain sharply divided – 37-36 – on the question of hydrofracking in the Marcellus.

On the question of whether the ban on mixed martial arts, otherwise known as ultimate fighting, should be lifted in New York, the largest group of respondents – 38 percent – say they need more information before making a decision.

Only one in four voters said they’re paying attention to the MMA debate (it polls high among younger New Yorkers, not surprisingly), and it scored the lowest in terms of public interest of the eight issues Siena polls this time around.